Removable document storage apparatus

ABSTRACT

A storage apparatus for temporarily mounting a plurality of planar documents. An elongated mounting spine having one or more mounting posts thereon is adapted to receive documents for mounting. Mounting notches are formed into an edge of each document to be stored, each notch being adapted to engage a mounting post. Each mounting notch is defined by a channel having opposed edges terminating at a receiving aperture and at least one reinforced, flexible positioning tab being aligned and extending inwardly from one of the opposed edges of the mounting notch. A positioning tab separates the receiving aperture from the channel edges. The distance between a positioning tab and opposed channel edge is less than the outer dimension of the mounting post. When in place, a positioning tab will temporarily maintain the position of a mounting post within the receiving aperture and prevent inadvertent dislodgment of the document from the mounting post.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to document-fastening devices and, more specifically, to document-fastening devices that allow the user to create a file of sequenced documents and to selectively insert and/or remove documents therefrom independent of all other documents.

2. Prior Art

A typical document-fastening device disclosed by the prior art includes a combination of an elongated metal strip and a metal retainer that engages the elongated metal strip. The elongated metal strip has arm sections that are passed through a pair of apertures punched in the documents to be mounted. The arm sections of the elongated metal strip are inserted in a pair of apertures provided in the metal retainer. The arm sections are bent or otherwise deflected and held in place by sleeves of the metal retainer. The problems inherent in this device are precisely what are sought to be solved by the present invention. Where the documents are intended to be stored in a selected sequence, a user cannot insert or remove a document without first removing all documents between the selected location and those adjacent the metal retainer. The present invention resolves this inadequacy by allowing documents to be selectively mounted and/or removed without the removal of any previously mounted documents.

The prior art also discloses devices which are intended to permit the temporary mounting of documents. One of the devices disclosed by the prior art for temporarily storing documents comprises a pair of clamp members arranged in a jaw-like arrangement. A lever is used to open or close the clamp members in response to an externally provided force. The clamp members secure between them a selected plurality of loose documents by applying opposed clamping forces thereon. Removal and/or insertion of documents requires the lever to release the opposed forces of the clamps. The inadequacy of this device is inherent in the manner in which it functions. If the clamping force on the documents from the clamping members is inadvertently released, all documents will be dislodged. The present invention resolves this problem by providing resilient, flexible mounting tabs on each document. As a result, documents can be selectively inserted and/or removed without regard to the position or mounting status of any other document.

Another device disclosed by the prior art which permits the selective insertion and removal of documents comprises a plurality of individual tabs, each of which has a binding edge which normally lies in a vertical plane when the tabs of the binding system are laying on a horizontal surface, a separation edge, a first surface and a second surface. The individual sheets are held together by a flexible binding which secures the binding edges of the plurality of individual tabs together as a unit so the individual tabs can be folded open like a page of a book. A repositionable adhesive is positioned on the first surface of each of the individual tabs. The repositionable adhesive is sufficiently strong to hold a sheet of material thereto as the sheet of material and the tab are folded open. However, the repositionable adhesive is sufficiently weak to permit removal of the sheet of material without damaging the tab. The problems arising out of use of this device are inherent in the need to use adhesive to maintain a document in a mounted position. The present invention avoids this problem by individually securing documents to the mounting posts through the use of mounting notches which utilize reinforced, flexible mounting posts to maintain the position of a document within the file yet allow it to be selectively removed independent of any other document.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a storage apparatus to create a file of sequentially positioned documents while allowing documents to be inserted into or removed therefrom independent of the position of previously stored documents. The present invention utilizes conventional document storing systems that typically utilize a base panel having one or more mounting posts extending therefrom. Each document to be used with the present invention has one or more mounting notches formed along an edge thereof. The mounting notch is defined by a pair of obliquely aligned channel edges terminating in a receiving aperture that is adapted to receive and be positioned about a mounting post. At least one positioning tab extends inwardly from a channel edge toward the opposing channel edge intermediate the opening of the mounting notch and the receiving aperture. To avoid inadvertent displacement, the distance between a positioning tab and the opposed channel edge is less than the diameter of width of the mounting post. The surface of the document adjacent each notch is reinforced but resiliently flexible.

To insert a document, the mounting notches are positioned adjacent the mounting posts. By applying force to the document, the flexible positioning tabs will be resiliently deflected until the mounting post is disposed within the terminal receiving aperture of the notch. To remove the document, the direction of the applied force is reversed. As a result, documents may be selectively mounted or removed without the disruption of or removal of any document stored within the file.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved document storage apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a document storage apparatus that permits the insertion and removal of documents independent of all other mounted documents.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a removable document storage apparatus that can withstand repeated insertion and removal of documents.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a removable document storage apparatus that is simple and inexpensive to fabricate.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of a removable document storage apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of a document in which a mounting notch is formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the document including the mounting notch shown in FIG. 2 taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a plurality of mounted documents as shown in FIG. 1 taken through line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of a document including a mounting notch and reinforcement panel.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the document shown in FIG. 5 taken through line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view of a document in which a mounting notch is formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention employing a single positioning tab.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An understanding of the present invention can be best gained by reference to FIGS. 1-4, inclusive, wherein a removable document storage apparatus in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The present invention can utilize conventional document storage systems such as that depicted in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a document file base panel 10 has secured thereto at one end a pair of aligned mounting posts 11 and 12 which are adapted to receive stored documents. Although the present invention is described with respect to a document file employing a pair of cylindrical mounting posts 11 and 12, it is understood by those having skill in the art that the number and geometrical confirmation of the mounting posts to be employed is a decision of choice.

To secure documents 18 in the file, helical springs 13 and 14 are positioned about mounting posts 11 and 12 and are held in place by retainer bar 15. Mounting posts 11 and 12 are typically cylindrical in form having a central threaded aperture therein for receiving set screws 16 and 17, respectively. As will be described in detail hereinbelow, documents 18 are mounted upon mounting posts 11 and 12. When set screws 16 and 17 are tightened, a clamping force is imposed on the documents between retainer bar 15 and base panel 10. When set screws 16 and 17 are loosened, the force imposed on documents 18 is removed and documents 18 can be inserted into or withdrawn from the file.

It is an objective of the present invention to allow documents 18 to be inserted into or removed from the file without the need to disrupt or remove any documents that are already stored in the file. This is accomplished by the structure of the documents 18 to be used in accordance with the present invention. Documents employed in accordance with the present invention have pre-cut notches 20 disposed in an edge 21 of document 18. Since the present invention is described utilizing mounting posts 11 and 12, two mounting notches 20 would be precut into edge 21 of each document 18.

Mounting notch 20 is defined by a channel having obliquely opposed edges 22 and 23. The distance between the channel edges 22 and 23 decreasing uniformly from the opening of mounting notch 20 at edge 21 terminating at positioning tabs 24 and 25. The distance 26 between opposed positioning tabs 24 and 25 is reduced from the distance between notch edges 22 and 23 at edge 21. Mounting notch 20 is extended beyond positioning tabs 24 and 25 into a terminal receiving aperture 27 having a diameter that is greater than mounting posts 11 and 12. To prevent document 18 from being inadvertently dislodged, the distance 26 between opposed positioning tabs is less than the diameter of mounting posts 11 and 12. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a margin 28 of document 18 surrounding mounting notch 20 is reinforced by conventional hardening compounds such as glue, the hardening compound selected not being an element of the present invention.

As stated, a primary objective of the present invention is to allow the user to selectively insert a document 18 within a file or remove a previously stored document 18 form a file without the necessity of removing previously stored documents from the file. This objective is intended to alleviate the problems inherent in document storage systems identified in the prior art. An understanding of the selective insertion or removal of a document 18 can be best understood by reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of documents 18 mounted upon mounting post 12. Mounting post 12 is disposed within the terminal mounting aperture 27. The documents 18 are held in place by positioning tabs 24 and 25. For the purpose of example, FIG. 4 illustrates the removal of a document in a direction designated by the reference numeral 30. Since the reinforced margin 28 about mounting notch 20 is resilient, positioning tabs 24 and 25 will be deflected about the cylindrical mounting post 12. The document can be removed without interfering with or removing the documents positioned above that being removed. In a like manner, the storage of a document 18 at a location within the file merely requires the application of force in a direction opposite to that identified by reference numeral 30.

A first alternative embodiment of the present invention can be best seen by reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, mounting notches 20 and reinforced through the use of conventional hardening treatments. In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mounting notches 35 for documents 36 utilize auxiliary reinforcement members 42. As shown, mounting notch 35 is formed in document 36 in a manner described with respect to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. A pair of obliquely opposed edges 37 and 38 terminate at positioning tabs 39 and 40. Mounting notch 35 is extended beyond positioning tabs 39 and 40 into terminal receiving aperture 41 that is adapted to be positioned about a mounting post 11 or 12. As an alternative to hardening compounds, auxiliary reinforcement member 42 comprises a planar panel secured about mounting notch 35. The width of member 42 is sufficient to preclude damage to document 36 as a result of the insertion or removal of the document from a respective mounting post. An auxiliary reinforcement member may be constructed from paper, metal foil or other conventional planar materials.

A second alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7, the mounting notch illustrated therein being generally designated by the reference numeral 50. Mounting notch 50 is defined by linear channel edges 51 and 52 that extend from document edge 53 obliquely with respect to one another. Mounting notch 50 extends into a terminating receiving aperture 54 formed by positioning tab 55 and the opposed channel edge 52. The distance 56 between positioning tab 55 and linear channel edge 52 is less than the diameter of the mounting posts 11 and 12 described with respect to FIGS. 1-6, inclusive.

The resilient structure of positioning tab 55 as shown in FIG. 7 is the same as that described with respect to positioning tab 24 and 25 (see FIG. 2) and positioning tabs 39 and 40 (see FIG. 5). As described, a mounting notch in accordance with the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7 will be either reinforced through the use of conventional hardening treatments or reinforced through an auxiliary member such as that described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. It is understood by those having skill in the art that a mounting notch in accordance with the present invention can utilize a single positioning tab 55 and an opposed channel edge having a variety of geometrical orientations that produce a receiving aperture 54 having a diameter that is less than the diameter or width of the mounting post that is to be secured therein. 

1. A removable document storage apparatus comprising a file storage base panel including a mounting post secured perpendicular to said panel and clamping means coupled to said base panel for imposing a retaining force on documents disposed between said clamping means and said base panel, each of said documents having an edge for aligned storage thereof, at least one mounting notch being incised into the edge of the document, said mounting notch comprising a channel consisting of first and second obliquely spaced, opposed segments, said segments extending into a terminating receiving aperture adapted to be positioned adjacent a mounting post, and resilient positioning means for maintaining the mounting post adjacent the receiving aperture depending from and being intermediate at least one of said segments and said receiving aperture and extending toward the opposing segment whereby the interval intermediate said positioning means and said opposed segments prevents inadvertent dislodgment of the mounting post from said receiving aperture.
 2. A removable document storage apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting posts are cylindrical.
 3. A removable document storage apparatus as defined in claim 1 including reinforcement means disposed upon the document about the opposed segments and the receiving mounting aperture of said mounting notch.
 4. A removable document storage apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said reinforcement means comprises a resilient planar, reinforcement member secured to the document uniformly about said mounting notch.
 5. A removable document storage apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said positioning means comprises a positioning tab integral with said segment.
 6. A removable document storage apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reinforcement means comprises a resilient planar secured to the document in full alignment with said opposed segments, the positioning tab and the receiving aperture.
 7. A removable document storage apparatus comprising a file storage base panel including mounting posts having a predetermined width secured perpendicular to said panel and clamping means coupled to said base panel for imposing a retaining force on documents disposed between said clamping means and said base panel, each of the documents having an alignment edge for storage thereof, at least one mounting notch being incised into the alignment edge of the document, said mounting notch comprising a channel consisting of first and second obliquely spaced, opposed segments, said segments extending into a terminating receiving aperture adapted to receive and be positioned adjacent a mounting post, first and second positioning tabs depending inwardly into said channel from the opposed segments adjacent said receiving aperture and being in spaced opposition to one another whereby the space between said positioning tab being less than the width of the mounting post whereby the mounting post is resiliently maintained within the receiving aperture.
 8. A removable document storage apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said alignment posts are cylindrical.
 9. A removable document storage apparatus as defined in claim 7 including reinforcement means disposed upon the document upon the opposed segments and the receiving mounting aperture of said mounting notch.
 10. A removable document storage apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said reinforcement means comprises a planar reinforcement member having a predetermined width secured to the document uniformly about the mounting notch.
 11. A removable document storage apparatus comprising a file storage base panel including a plurality of cylindrical mounting posts secured perpendicular to said panel and clamping means coupled to said base panel for imposing a retaining force on the documents disposed between said clamping means and said base panel, each of the documents having an alignment edge for storage thereof, a plurality of spaced mounting notches adapted to receive a mounting post incised into the alignment edge of the document, said mounting notch comprising a channel defined by first and second obliquely spaced, opposed segments extending into a terminating receiving aperture adapted to receive and be disposed adjacent a respective mounting post, a positioning tab being integral with first opposed segment adjacent said terminating receiving aperture and extending into the channel toward the second segment, the distance between the positioning tab and said second segment being less than the diameter of the mounting post. 